Box



Feb. 8, 1944. H, ER 2,341,308 Box Filed June 16. 1941 BY Gama m ammw'x Patented Feb. 8, 1944 2,341,3(l8ir:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I BOX Herbert'G. Berry, Chicago, Ill. Application June 16, 1941, Serial No. 398,261 Claims. (01. 206 16) My improved box may be used for various purposes, but is intended like.

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved tool box preferably formed of sheet metal, and having an inner tray with means'for looking or fastening the handle to the tray when the handle is in raised position; to provide a. box of the character indicated with a cover which coacts with the tray and tends to hold the tray in normal or fixed position; to provide a tool box or the like with a two piece hinged cover and an inner tray with means for fastening the handle to the tray whereby the cover and tray will be interlocked; and to provide such other novel features and advantages as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing illustrated in this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The box has a body portion 5 with sides 6 and the bottom I. The top portions of the ends 8 are preferably tapered or converging as shown at 9 with fiat or horizontal upper edges l0.

One of the cover sections H is hinged at l2 to the upper edge of one of the sides 6, at a short distance below the angle in the end piece. It extends upwardly from the hinge and is bent at I3 to conform to the shape of the ends, and extends up and across the upper edge of the ends and then down a short distance on the opposite side, terminating as shown at I 4. The other cover section 15 is pivoted to the opposite side at [6, and extends up and inwardly to conform to the ends -of the box and is shouldered at I! to receive the edge M of the first named cover member which overlaps the same as shown in Fig. 2. These cover sections may be fastened together by the usual fastening devices or locks l8. This construction, as seen from the drawing, provides a cover portion which is substantially in the form of a truncated triangular prism.

The inner sides of the box are provided with angles or ledges 19 for supporting the tray 20. These ledges are preferably located a short distance below the hinges so that the tray will extend down into the body portion of the box as shown. The tray is of more or less usual form having sides 2| and. bottom 22, and is provided with a longitudinal central partition 23 which particularly for tools or thealso extends substantially up to the inner surface of the cover and has a handle for removing the tray from the box. This partition is cut away at 24 to provide an opening for the fingers, and has a handle 25 for raising and lowering the tray. l I

The cover section II has a handle 26 for care rying the box which is pivoted at the ends in closed or channel shaped bearings or pivotmembers 21 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the cover. The ends of the handle 26 are provided with hooks or catches 28 which extend downwardly or inwardly through slots 29 in the cover. These hooks are positioned at substantially right angles to the handleand their lower extremities are adapted to pass at times through holes 30 in the wall or partition 23 in order to connect the handle 26 with the tray. When the handle 26 is in raised or normal position, the. hooks 28 are engaged or interlocked with the tray as shown in Fig. 2, andwhen in this position tend to hold the tray and cover together whereby the box may be raised even if the catches l8 are in unlatched position, without raising or swinging the cover section II or'tending to tip over the body portion of the box and tray, as might otherwise occur in the absence of such interlocking devices. In order to more effectively interfasten these parts, the cover sections II and 15 preferably extend inwardly over the upper edges of the sides 2| of the tray as shown at 3|, so that these upper edgeswillengage with the inwardly projecting surfaces and tend to hold the tray in its normal position.

When the cover is to be opened, the handle 26 is swung down as shown in dotted position, and the hooks 28 move up into the enclosed bearing members 21. This will free the cover from the tray and permit the same to be opened. When the cover is again closed and the handle 26 raised for carrying the box, the hooks will automatically engage with the tray for fastening the parts together as above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A box for tools or the like, comprising a body portion with ends extending upwardly beyond the sides of the body portion, and converging toward the top with horizontal upper edges, cover sections hinged to the upper edges of the sides of the box and conforming with the shape of the ends, one of said sections extending across the upper edges of the ends and partway down the opposite converging side, the other section extending upwardly and inwardly and underlapping the edge of the first named section, a tray positioned within the body portion with its edges engaging with the inwardly projecting portions of the cover sections, a handle pivotally secured to the cover and means carried by the handle which engages with the tray when the handle is in raised position for fastening the tray and cover together, said means releasing the tray when the handle is moved to predetermined position. A

2. A tool box of the type having a cover in substantially the form of a truncated prism and parted longitudinally along one of the slopes to form two cover sections, with the edge of the wider section substantially overlapping the edge of the narrower section, a handle pivoted to the top level surface of the cover and having hooks extending inwardly through the cover, a tray movably mounted in the box having holes in one portion thereof which are engaged by the hooks when the handle is in raised position, the edges of the tray engaging with the respective adjacent cover sections to cause the tray and cover sections to be locked together when the hooks engage with the tray.

3. A tool box or chest comprising a body portion, a cover member hinged to one side of the body portion and extending upwardly and inwardly at least part way across the top of the box, a handle, channel-shaped bearings secured to the top of the cover and engaged by the ends of the handle, extensions on the ends of the handle which project inwardly through slots in the cover, said extensions being adapted to swing into the channel bearings, a second cover member hinged to the opposite side of the box and extending upwardly and inwardly with its free edge overlapped by the edge of the first named cover section, a tray liftably mounted in the box engaging with said cover members and having an upwardly extending portion with holes which are engaged by said extensions to fasten the cover and tray together, said extensions being shaped to release the tray when the handle is swung to inoperative position.

4. A box of the character set forth comprising a body portion, a tray movably mounted intlie upper portion of the body said tray having upwardly extending sides and having a central longitudinally extending upwardly projecting wall member with holes adjacent to the top thereof, a cover section hinged to one side of the box and extending upwardly and inwardly closely over one side of the tray and terminating a short distance therefrom and engageable by said side, another cover section hinged to the opposite side of the box and extending upwardly and inwardly over the opposite side of the tray and across the top adjacent to the upper edge of the wall member with its free edge extending downwardly and overlapping the edge of the first named cover member, a handle pivoted to the upper portion of the last named cover section and having hooks extending throu h slots in the section which engage with the holes in the wall member when the handle is in raised or normal position and which are disengaged when the handle is lowered, the arrangement being such that when the box is raised by the handle, the hooks will tend to raise the tray and both sides of the tray will impinge upon the adjacent portions of the cover sections thereby fastening the tray and cover sections together so that when the box and tray are raised the cover sections will remain closed even if the edges of the cover sections are not locked together.

5. The combination with a box provided with two cover sections hinged thereto and having overlapping edges, of a tray mounted for vertical movement in the box with its edges adapted to impinge upon the inner'surfaces of the respective cover sections, a member extending upwardly from the tray and terminating adjacent to one of said cover members, a handle andmeans actuated by the handle movably mounted on the overlapping cover section for engagement with the member when the handle is in raised position whereby when the box is raised by the handle, the tray and cover members will be held together with the cover members in closed position and when the handle is moved to releasing position, the cover sections will be disconnected from the tray and may be opened.

HERBERT C. BERRY. 

